Rotary interleaving apparatus



April 29, 1952 c. o. RUMPH 2,594,499

ROTARY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Cone/e] Q Eumpb April 29, 1952 c. o. RUMPH A 2,594,499

ROTARY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CQno/e Pam b April 29, 1952 c. o. RUMPH ROTARY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS 5 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1946 INVENTOR. Co g/e 0 241/076 April 29, 1952 c. o. RUMPH 2,594,499

ROTARY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1946 INVENTOR. Cono/ey 0 Eu npA BY/6417K I ffar/uy i atented Apr. 29, 1952 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Conoley O. Rumph, Selma, Ala. Application December 28, 1946, SerialNo. 718,972 6 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) nated which shall be simple of design, economical of manufacture, and reliable of operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide interleaving apparatus which shall be particularly adapted for association with a printing press having automatic feed and sheet stacking means, and which shall include a rotary magazine having means thereon for mounting a plurality of stacks of sheets of paper, together with means for shifting the magazine to place the stacks in position to be accessible successively to the paper feed means.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision of interleaving apparatus for associa-v tion with paper feed means, which shall include a rotary magazine with means thereon to mount to interrupt the rotation of the carriage to place the several stacks of sheets in position for access, successively by the paper feed means.

In my copending application, Serial No. 716,015, filed December 13, 1946, I have shown, described, and claimed, interleaving apparatus in association with a printing press having automatic paper feed and stacking means, which apparatus included a reciprocating carriage having m'eans thereon for mounting a plurality of stacks of paper sheets and means to interrupt the movement of the carriage in one direction with the stacks successively positioned accessible to the paper feed means. It is the principal object of my present invention to simplify the apparatus therein disclosed and to that end I have devised a rotating magazine or carriage having means for mounting thereon a plurality .of stacks of paper sheets, and have provided novel means for interrupting rotation of the magazine or carriage with the several stacks successively positioned in paperpick up position with respect to the paper feed means.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying' drawings forming a part ofthis application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing my improved apparatus in association with a printing press;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is vertical sectional view of the rotary carriage;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the paper support with parts broken away;

a plurality of stacks of paper sheets and means a lower thrust bearing 2|.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view showing the mechanism for rotating the carriage;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the pneumatic cylinder forming a part of the mechanism shown inFig.4;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5 and drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of one of the stop members and taken generally along line IX-IX of Fig. 4; v

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X oi Fig.9;

Fig. llis a sectional plan View of the actuating mechanism for the paper take-up;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 11.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show at In a printing press of the well-known Meihle type having paper feed means including a paper pickup arm H, which, as is well known, feeds the sheets to the platen l2 of the press where they are printed and then removed and stacked by a paper stacking arm 13. The details of construction and operation of this part of the apparatus are well known and form no part of my invention; consequently, a detailed description thereof will not be given. Associated with the printing press and its paper pickup and stacking means just mentioned, is my improved interleaving apparatus which will now be described.

At I4 I show a rotary, circular table which is fixedly mounted on a vertical shaft IS. The shaft I6 is mounted in a pedestal l1 and is freely rotatable therein in ball bearings l8 and I9 and Mounted to move vertically above the table I4 is a paper support 22 which is held in fixed angular relation with respect to the table by means of vertical guides or splines 23, a plurality of which are secured at their lower ends to the table M, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and which fit in notches 24 in the paper support. The paper support is provided, opposite each of the vertical guides 23, with radial, dovetailed grooves 26 in each of which is adjustably mounted a vertically extending plate 21 for holding in place a stack of paper sheets. The plate 21 is provided at its base with a lug 28 through which a set screw 29 extends for adjustablypositioning the plate.- Underneath and alongside each of the radial grooves 26 in the table I4 are a plurality of dovetailed arcuate grooves 3|, and in the paper support are corresponding arcuate slots 30. Lugs 32 fit into the arcuate grooves 3| and each has mounted thereon a vertically extending rod 33 which extends upwardly through the corresponding arcuate slot 30 and is adapted to bear against the side of a stack of paper sheets extending to the top thereof. The lugs 32 are adjustably positioned in the grooves 3i by means of set screws 34 and serve to hold the stacks of paper sheets against lateral displacement.

The paper supporting plate 22- isin turn supported from a central drum 36 mounted on the upper end of the shaft I6 and freely rotatable with respect thereto, a ball bearing 3l being interposed between the upper end of the shaft and the drum. The drum is exteriorly threaded as shown at 38 and the paper support 22 is provided with a threaded opening 39 in engagement with the threads 38 on the drum. It will be seen that upon rotation of the drum 36 with respect to the paper support 22, the latter will be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction of rotation. This maintains the stacks of paper sheets at the proper level for access by the paper pickup arm II in a manner to be described later.

Mounted on the pedestal I1, beneath the rotary table I4, is an elongated frame 4|. At the outer end of the frame is a pneumatic cylinder 42, in which is mounted a double acting piston 43. A piston rod 44 extends out through one end of the cylinder and is connected to a yoke 46 slidably mounted in guides 41 and 48, forming a part of the elongated frame 4I. At the outer end of the cylinder 42 is a valve chamber 49 to which air under pressure is admitted through a pipe I. Mounted in the valve chamber 49 is a valve 52 which may be of the D slide type and which is actuated by an oscillating arm 53 secured to a shaft 54 extending through the valve chamber and which is connected at its outer end to an arm 56, in turn connected to a valve rod 51. The adjacent head 58 of the cylinder 42 is provided with an air admission port 59 and an exhaust port 6|. It is also provided with a port 63 leading out through the head 58 to a pipe 64 connected through the opposite head 66 of the cylinder to the opposite end thereof. It will be seen that as the valve 52 is oscillated on its seat, air under pressure will be admitted to, and exhausted from opposite ends of the cylinder 42 and cause the piston 43 to reciprocate. I

Mounted Within the yoke '46 is a second yoke 61 having rack teeth 68 and 69 along the inner sides thereof which are adapted to engage selectively with a pinion 'II mounted on the shaft I6. The yoke 61 is connected at its ends to the yoke 46 for lateral shifting by means of links 12 and I3, the said links being connected respectively on opposite sides of a center line passing longitudinally through the yoke 46 and inclined to said center line. Connected to the link I2 is a leaf spring 14 which is curved, as sh0wn, so as to strike the shaft I6 when the yoke is moved to the right, thereby causingthe yokeBI to swing and disengage therack 68 from the pinion II and engage the rack 69. The link I3 has mounted thereon a leaf spring I6 which is curved to engage the shaft I6 when the yoke 46 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 5. This causes the yoke 61 to be swung downward, as viewed in Fig. 5, to disengage the rack 69 and reengage the rack 60. By means shown it will be seen that the shaft I6 is caused to rotate clockwise. as viewed in Fig. 5, by the racks 68 and 69 in whichever direction they are caused to move by the piston 43. The valve rod 51 extends alongside the yoke 46 and has its outer end mounted in a stationary guide bracket 'I'I. Mounted on the yoke 46 is a bracket I8 through which the valve rod 51 passes and which strikes, alternately at the opposite ends of its travel, against collars I9 and 8!, mounted on the valve rod, and which are cushioned, respectively, by springs 02 and 83. By this means, the valve 52 is shifted on its seat to bring about reciprocation of the yoke 46.

Mounted on the underside of the rotary table I4 are a plurality of stop members 84, each of which is associated with one of the places provided on the paper support 22 for a stack of paper sheets. As shown in Fig. 9, each of the stop members 84 is comprised of a cushioned head 06 such as is disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned copending application. The cushioned head 86 is mounted on a body 81 connected by a web member 88 to a bearing portion 89 pivotally mounted between flanges 9| and 92 on the underside of the table I4. A spring detent 96 bears against a fiat portion 95 on the bearing portion 89 whereby the stop member may be held in its lowered position. As shown in Fig. 9, a second flat portion 95 disposed at degrees to the portion 95, is adapted to be engaged by the spring when the stop is rotated to raised position, thereby to hold the stop up for a reason to be later explained.

At the end of the frame 4I opposite the piston 42 is mounted a stop arm 9'! on a shaft 98 which is mounted in bearings 99 and IOI. The stop arm 91 is biased toward a position to engage the stops 84 on the underside of the table I4 by a spring I02 connected to an arm I03 on the side of the shaft opposite the stop arm 91. The lower end of the spring I02 is connected to a lug I04 on the frame 4!. See Fig. 3. On the outer end of the shaft 96 is mounted a triangular shaped arm I06 having a finger I0I at the lower corner thereof. Mounted alongside the arm I06, on the frame 4!, is a bracket I08 having a slot III therein in which the arm I06 swings. A shoulder I09 on the arm I06 is disposed to engage the upper end member of the slot and limit the swing of the stop arm 9'! by reason of the spring I02. A trip rod II2 extends through the slot III to engage the finger I01 on the arm I66. A spring H3 is connected at its lower end to the trip rod H2 and at its upper end to an arm II4 secured to the bracket I00. It will be understood that the trip rod H2 is reciprocating from the press I0 in timed relation with the movements of the paper pickup arm II. As it moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, its outer end engages the finger I01 and causes the shaft to rotate counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 8, to rotate the stop arm 9'! out of the way of a stop 84. As the rod IIZ moves farther to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, it is engaged by the lower side II 6 of the crank arm I06 to disengage it from the finger I01. When this occurs, the stop arm 91 is immediately pulled back to stop engaging position by means of the spring I 02. By the means shown, it will be seen that each time a sheet of paper is picked off the stack on the carriage, the stop arm 9! is disengaged from the stop 84 momentarily and the carriage is allowed then to continue in its rotation. As the trip rod H2 is disengaged from the crank arm I06, the stop arm is pulled back into stop engaging position to interrupt the rotationof the carriage at the next stack of paper sheets, and so on. In event fewer than the total number of places for mounting stacks of sheets are utilized, the corresponding stops 84 are turned up out of the way of the stop arm 91, whereupon the magazine carriage will be rotated until the first lowered stop 84 is engaged.

As sheets of paper are removed from the several stacks it is necessary for the paper support 22 to be raised to bring the upper level of the stacks of sheets in position to be engaged by the paper pickup arm II. This is brought about by the means for effecting relative rotation of the drum 36 with respect to the paper support 22, which will now be described.

Journaled in the rotary table I4 is a short vertical shaft 1 on which is mounted a curved striking arm II8 on the lower end thereof, beneath the table I4. n the upper end of the shaft I I1, above the table I4, is secured an actuating arm I I8; Mountedon the frame 4I underneath the table I4 is a bracket II9 having an upstanding portion I2I through which a screw I22 extends, the end of which lies in the path of the striking arm H8. It will be seen that as the table I4 rotates, carrying the striking arm H8 past the screw I22, the outer end of the striking arm will be pushed inward, as viewed in Fig. 11. The screw I22 may be manually adjusted to vary the movement of the striking arm ll8 by means of a knob I23. Connected to the actuating arm 8 is a link I24 which is connected to one arm I26 of a spider I25 which is mounted to oscillate about a pin I28 mounted on the table I4. A second arm I29 of the spider is connected by means of a link I3I to an arm I32, pivoted at I33 on the table I4, and having on its outer end a friction pawl I34 adapted to engage the inner surface of the drum 36 and hold it against counterclockwise rotation. The arm I29 is biased in a direction to hold the pawl I34 in engagement with the drum by means of a spring I36 secured at one end to the arm I29, and at the opposite end to a pin I31 carried by the table I4. At I38 I show 9. lug mounted on the table I4 through" which an adjustable stop screw I39 is threaded, which screw bears against a lug I4I on the spider to limit its counterclockwise rotation.

The drum 36 is normally held against clockwise rotation by means of a friction holding pawl I42,

' pivotally mounted at I43 to the table I4, adjacent the arm I26 of the spider. The pawl I42 has an arm I44 extending beyond its pivot point which is connected to the arm I26 of the spider by means of a spring I46. This holds the pawl in .engagement with the drum 36. The pawl I42 is also provided with a shoulder I41 which extends inwardly of the drum at an angle of approximately 90 to the pawl and which is disposed to be engaged by a screw I48 carried by a lug I49 on the arm I29 of the spider I25, to disengage the pawl from the drum when the spider I25 is rotated clockwise as hereinafter explained.

Rotational movement of the drum 36 with respect to the table I4 is imparted by means of an actuating friction pawl II, pivotally mounted at I52 on the short arm of a lever I53, which is pivotally mounted at I54 on the table I4. The pawl I5I is provided with an arm I56 and the lever I53 is provided with an arm I51 extending outwardly adjacent its pivot point which arms are connected by a spring I58 to hold the pawl I5I in engagement with the inner surface of the drum. A spring I59 anchored to thetable I4 at I6I is connected'to the long arm 'of the lever 153 at I62 to bias the lever against a stop pin I633. The outer end of the lever I53 is divided, as shown in Fig. 13 to provide arms I64 and I66 between which is journaled a cylindrical member I61. The cylindrical member I61 has an opening therethrough in which is slidably mounted .a rod I68 which is pivotally connected at I69 toan arm I1I of the spider I25. The outer end of the rod I68 is threaded'and is provided with adjusting nuts I12 to limit the movement of the rod through the member I61.

Adjacent the pawl I5I is a lug I55 on the'lever I53 through which a screw I66 passesoto limit the clockwise movement of the pawl I5I, as viewed in Figll of the drawing; 1

It will be seen that when the striking member H8 is moved-iria clockwise direction by engagement with the adjustable abutment l22,.the-actuating arm 8* is moved inwardly, rotating the spider I25 in a clockwise direction. As the spider is rotated, the lever I32 is moved about its pivot point I33 to release the pawl I34. The drum 36 is now free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. When the spider I25 has rotated in clockwise direction suificiently for the nuts I12 to engage the cylindrical member I61, further movement rotates the lever I53 about its pivot I54, causing the friction pawl I5I to rotate the drum in a counterclockwise direction. Accordingly at each revolution of the table I4, the drum 36 is rotated av slight distance with respect thereto in a counterclockwise direction. This raises the paper support 22 sufficiently to maintain the upper surfaces of the stacks of paper'sheets at the proper height for access by the paper pickup arm.

At I13 I show a manually operable detent which is pivotally mounted at I14 to the table I4, adjacent the actuating arm H8 Whenever it becomes necessary to re-set the position of the paper support 22, as when mounting fresh stacks of paper sheets thereon, the actuating arm Ill! is manually pushed inwardly of the drum and the detent I13 is turned to hold the arm H8 in its inward position. The inward movement of the arm II8 is sufiicient for the screw I48 to engage the shoulder I41 on the holding pawl I42 to disengage the holding pawl from the inner surface of the drum. At the same time, the holding pawl I34 has been disengaged therefrom by the clockwise movement of the spider I25, as already described. Also as .the lever I53 is rotated about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction by its connection with the arm I1I of the spider, the

screw I engages the arm I56 of the pawl I5I to hold it out of engagement with the inner surface of the drum 36. The drum being thus fully released may now be rotated manually by means of a handle I16, shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. Stacks of paper sheets are mounted'on the paper support 22 and are .held imposition by the backing up plate 21 and by the guide members 33, at the sides. The drum 36 is rotated manually, in a manner hereinbefore described, to adjust the stacks of paper sheets to the proper height for access by. the paper pick-up arn'i II. The detent I13 is then released and the apparatus is placed in operation. The reciprocation of the piston 43 in the cylinder 42 effects rotation bf the table I4 with its paper stacks As the paper pickup arm II starts its movement toward the stacks of paper sheets, the trip arm ll2 engages partrotary motion to the central with athcflnger. I01. on. the;.arm H16. and: swings the stop: member 91 downward: to disengage, it

from: its associatedstop member 84, whereupon 'this'ope'ration, I may provide pipes I80 fora-1r under pressure directed toward the upper sheets of the stacks to loosen them in a. manner; well understood. Ateach revolution of'thetable 14 the rotationis interrupted at-each stack. of paper sheets while. thetop sheet'is beingremoved by the paper pickup. arm I l Thetrip arm. l I2operating in timed relation-with the paper pickup arm releases the-table M as. the paper pickupi arm -moves away-fromieachnstack. Also, at eachrevolutionof the table Mythe striking-arm I 58 strikes the adjustable. abutment I22 to effect rotation ofithecdrum 36 with respect to the table It, and

raise the .stacks of sheets as hereinbefore described. The extent of this movement can be varied by-the adjustment of the position of the screw I22. During the periods of time when the tableais; at rest the pn umatic. y d r a s connected to the source of air, and uponrelease of: the: stop member 91, the piston rod continues its movementto the end of the stroke.

While-I have shown my improved apparatus in associationwith a printing pressit will be obviousithatv it is adapted for association with other; kinds: of duplicating apparatus having automatic feed means; such as a multigraph press; allthograph press, or other duplicating apparatus. It will also be obvious that my improved interleaving apparatus may be used withoutza printing press or duplicating apparatus, but'witha paperpickup and stacking means.

WhileI have; shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but that it is susceptibleof various changes and modifications,

. without departing-from the spirit thereof, and I;

desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon asare specifically set forth inthe appended claims.

What I claim'isr 1. In interleaving apparatus, a table mounted,-

to; rotate in a, horizontal plane, a paper support mounted on the tableto move. vertically but held against rotation, with respect to the table, a central; rotatable exteriorly threaded drum supporting thepaper support there being a threaded opening at :the center ofthe paper support engagingsaid threaded drum, means to mount a plurality of stacks of paper sheets in spaced relation about the periphery of the-paper support, means to remove sheets successively one at a timefrom thetops of'the several stacks, a pawl pivotally-mounted on the table-in position to imthreaded drum, a, strikingmember pivotally mounted on the table and'operatively'connected to the pawl to actuate it, and" an adjustable stationary abut- .mentin thepath of'the striking member-to impartmotion theretoat each rotation of the table.

2., In interleaving apparatus, a table mounted to-rotate in a, horizontal. plane, a paper support mounted ion-.thetableto move vertically but held against rotation with respect to the table, a central, rotatable. exteriorly threaded drum supporting thepapersupport there being a threaded ottening at, the; center of; the; :paper;support :en--

aging. said. threaded drum... means..tom.0.un plurality, of stacks; of paper, sheets in; spaced, relationabouttheperiphery'of the paper support, means ,to remove sheets successively one at a timefrom the. tops oftheseveral stacks, an. ace tuating; pawl mounted on; the table in'positionto impart rotary motion to the central threaded drum, a holding pawl interconnected with the actuating. pawl, a striking member pivotally mounted on, theta'ble and operatively connected to. the pawls: to; release first. the holding pawl and then, remove the; actuating pawl, and. an adjustable;stationary abutment; inthe, path of the striking; member: to impart motionthereto at each rotation of: the-.table.

8. In interleaving: apparatus, in combination With' a paper pickup; arm; a; rotary table, a:, verticalj shaft about which. the table rotates in M a horizontal plane; anexteriorly threaded: drum -mounted free to rotate on the upper end of'the shaft, a paper support splined to the table-and in threaded engagement with the drum, meansto mount a pluralityaof'stacks of paper sheets on the paper support to lie thereon in the same plane, stop means for interrupting the rotation of the tablein position for the pickup. arm to remove sheets of paper successively from the tops of'the stacks, mechanism for actuating. the stops and pickup arm in timed relation whereby the arm picks upsheets from the stacks while the carriageisat rest, and means-to. impart relative rotary movement to the drum to raise the paper support.

4. The combination with a rotary table, and means to mount a plurality of stacks of paper sheets in uniform spaced relation about the periphery of the table, of a vertical shaft upon which the table-is mounted, a pinion on the shaft, rack members on opposite sides of the shaft for engaging the pinion, a reciprocable yoke-in which therack members are mounted for lateral shifting, means carried by the rack members for-engagement with the shaft to shift them, a pneumatic cylinder having a reciprocating piston therein connected to the yoke, valve means for admitting pressure alternately toopposite' ends of the cylinder, a valve rod for actuating'the valve means, means on the-yoke for engaging the valve rod to operate it, paperfeed -means, means to interrupt the rotation of the table-at each stack of paper sheets for the feed means to removeasheet from the top thereof, and means to actuate the paper feed means while therotation of the table is interrupted.

5. The combination with a rotary table, and

means to mount a plurality of stacks of paper 152 by-theastopiarm;

sheets inuniform spaced relation about the periphery of the table, of a vertical shaft upon which the table is mounted, a pinion on the shaft, rack members on opposite sides of the shaftfor engaging the pinion, a reciprocable yoke in which the rack members are mounted for lateral shifting, means carried by the rack members for engagement with-the-shaft to shift them; apneumatic cylinderhaving a reciprocatingpiston therein connected to the'yoke; valve means for admitting pressure alternately to oppositeiends of the cylinders, a valve rod for actuating the valve means, and means on the yoke for engaging the valve rod to operate it, paper-feed means, a stationary frame having guide means therein for the yoke, a stop arm pivotally mounted on the frame, stop members mounted on the table at each stack of paper-sheets for engagement means biasing the stop arm-into position to engage the stop members, and trip means operable in timed relation with the paper feed means for swinging the stop arm out of the path of the stop members.

6. In interleaving apparatus, a table mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane, a paper support mounted on the table to move vertically but held against rotation with respect to the table, a central rotatable threaded drum supporting the paper support, means to mount a plurality of stacks of paper sheets in spaced relation about the periphery of the paper support, means to remove sheets successively one at a time from the tops of the several stacks, a pawl pivotally mounted on the table in position to impart rotary motion to the central threaded drum, a striking member pivotally mounted on the table and operatively connected to the pawl to actuate it, an adjustable stationary abutment in the path of the striking member to impart motion thereto at each rotation of the table, two holding pawls interconnected with the first mentioned pawl, and a lost motion connection between the holding pawls and the first mentioned pawl, in

which motion from the striking member is first transmitted to one of the holding pawls to release it before moving the first mentioned pawl.

CONOLEY O. RUMPH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,281 Estlow July 26, 18 87 466,719 Bredenberg Jan. 5, 1892 565,146 Smyth Aug. 4, 1896 921,983 Hanson May 18, 1909 1,757,553 Tauschek May 6, 1930- 1,845,907 Cook et a1 Feb. 16, 1932 2,172,519 Reeder Sept. 12, 1939 2,174,569 Dinzl W Oct. 3, 1939 2,334,664 Zappia Nov. 16, 19 23 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,209 Great Britain 1; July 13, 1968 

